Community mourns officer Stephen Arkell

Friday

May 16, 2014 at 2:00 AM

BRENTWOOD — This is the town where residents still turn out in their red, white and blue and line the streets to watch kids riding with their parents and grandparents on vehicles, horses and tractors in the annual Fourth of July parade.

Jason Schreiber

BRENTWOOD — This is the town where residents still turn out in their red, white and blue and line the streets to watch kids riding with their parents and grandparents on vehicles, horses and tractors in the annual Fourth of July parade.

This is the town that still has a country store known by most locals as Lindy's.

This is the town where people still get their news at Bessie's Lunch.

And this is also the town where people are coming together in a way they've never had to before.

Monday's shooting death of officer Steve Arkell and the dramatic house explosion that was shown on live TV struck the heart of this town of 4,200.

Signs of support for the Arkell family and the Brentwood officers he left behind are everywhere.

And so are the people from the law enforcement community and beyond who have come to lend a hand — or a shoulder to cry on.

Along the side of Route 107 not far from the scene of the shooting on Mill Pond Road, someone planted a tree, two flags, and used white stones to create No. 87 — Arkell's badge number.

The tears that have flowed this week have been endless, but the residents who have lived here for so long refuse to let this tragedy change the town they love.

"I believe it can heal," said Selectwoman Jane Byrne, a longtime resident who has known the Arkell family since they moved to town in 1971.

But it's hard for the healing process to begin with investigators still sifting through what's left of the demolished home at 46 Mill Pond Road.

The investigation into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the four-alarm fire and massive explosion that followed continues.

Associate Attorney General Jane Young said investigators hoped to wrap up their work at the scene by Friday, but it will take until Sunday or even longer.

The size and extent of the devastation makes processing the scene more difficult.

"It's methodical and painstaking work. They are there as long as they need to stay out there," she said Thursday.

Authorities said Arkell, 48, died of gunshot wounds inside the home before the intense fire erupted.

The explosion is believed to have killed the suspected shooter, 47-year-old Michael Nolan.

Arkell was shot and killed when he arrived at the Nolan residence after neighbors called police to report that Michael Nolan was swearing at his 86-year-old father, Young said.

Arkell arrived around 4:10 and was allowed inside by Walter Nolan.

The younger Nolan is believed to have immediately fired on Arkell inside the duplex.

Fremont Police Officer Derek Franek arrived a few minutes later and after entering the house found Arkell on the floor, Young said.

Parts of the home were riddled with bullets.

Fearing Arkell was already dead, Franek ran to the back of the house and escaped outside after he came under fire.

By 5:19 p.m., members of the Seacoast Emergency Response Team arrived with a Bear Cat vehicle and with assistance from the State Police SWAT team were able to remove Walter Nolan from the scene. He was sent to a local hospital where he was treated and released to other family members, Young said.

An explosion was reported at 5:49 p.m. and quickly spread to a second unit in the duplex.

After the fire was extinguished, Young said Arkell's remains were found at the rear of the home. An autopsy conducted Tuesday morning concluded that Arkell died of multiple gunshot wounds.

The remains of the shooter, Michael Nolan, were found late Monday night inside what was left of the attached garage, Young said.

An autopsy is being performed on Nolan, but Young said those results aren't available.

Investigators from several law enforcement agencies are working on the case, including state and local police, the State Police Major Crime Unit, the state Fire Marshal's Office, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Victim witness advocates are also working closely with many of those affected by the tragedy, namely the Arkell family, neighbors and law enforcement officers.

Meanwhile, police and other local officials said they've been overwhelmed by the support they've received.

"We have such a spirit of cooperative and consideration going on. It's going to help us heal," Byrne said.

Police Chief Wayne Robinson also offered his thanks to the many agencies that have helped his department through the tragedy.

The support has come in all forms, from food donations at the police department and town offices to the many counselors being made available to help and the police from other agencies helping patrol the town while Brentwood officers grieve.

The department is small, with five full-time officers and a sixth vacant position, a part-time administrative assistant and six part-time officers, one of whom was Arkell.

"This tragedy cut us all very deep. We are all missing him incredibly and there is a gaping hole in the heart of our agency," said police Sgt. Denny Wood.

At the Mary E. Bartlett Memorial Library, several women have been hard at work making black and blue ribbons to give out to anyone who wants to show their support for the fallen officer.

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